The Choctaw Drum Group performed a variety of musical expressions for students, faculty and the community during the 2005 Civil Rights Conference held at the UTM.

The show featured the Shuti Ikbe tribe, better known as the Choctaw Drum Group, which consists of Cubert Bell Jr., leader of the group and his younger relatives.

All events for the day were in honor of Tennessee Commissioner of Indian Affairs Evangeline “Van” Lynch, who has been ill and recently underwent surgery. The evening began as guests entered Watkins Auditorium during the performance of J.J. Kent’s playing the flute.

The Choctaw Drum Group then entered the stage bringing in a huge, round drum, then sang songs while playing the drum. One drummer started the song and the rest of the group joined in. The group that performed consisted of seven men, all of different ages. The songs were sung in a high tone and volume.

One special healing song and dance was performed by the group. The story of the healing song began many years ago when an elderly grandmother prayed to the heavens, begging for a cure for her sick grandchild. She was told that to help with the sickness of her granddaughter she needed to gather enough shells for every day of the year, place a prayer in each one and assemble them together. She did this and her granddaughter was healed.

The Choctaw Drum Group decided to do the healing song and dance in honor of Lynch. The group was accompanied by dancer, Nikki Bell who was dressed in a red ensemble with shells in a wrapping pattern at the bottom of her skirt. She accompanied the group by dancing to the beat of the drum.

“The healing song was really interesting. The dancer and the group all showed so much passion in their songs and dance,” said Jennifer Spencer, a junior Education major from Cordova.

The last song performed by the group was in honor of Lynch as well. The lead singer of the group announced that he had composed the song and felt Lynch gave him the encouragement to do so.

The group proposed that the audience come by and give Lynch a hand during the song. Throughout the final song members from the crowd came to the front of the auditorium to greet her. “I enjoyed the show. I think it is always interesting to experience things from a variety of cultures,” said Jenna Black, a freshman Elementary Education major from Alamo.

The Choctaw Drum Group concluded their performance and Lynch’s daughter and husband expressed their gratitude to the group.

For more information about the group, contact Dr. Brent Cox, organizer of the 2005 Civil Rights Conference, at bcox@utm.edu.